Outback Hiking Club of Southern Utah
Member Guidelines
Welcome!
You have the responsibility to review and adhere to these guidelines
on all Club hikes when you become a Member.
Outback Hiking Club Member Guidelines - Click for a printable pdf
1. When you join the Outback Club, please describe your current level of hiking ability regarding elevation gain, terrain, tolerance of exposure, and distance. Post a photo of your face so a leader knows who to look for at a Meetup location. If a leader is unfamiliar with you, they may contact you beforehand to inquire about your ability to complete the hike.
2. Meetup is the site Outback uses for sign ups. Review the details of the hike, and only reserve a spot if you are certain you are going to attend. If signing up for a hike that is already full, you will be added to the waitlist. If cancellations occur, you will be added in the order that you signed up. Meetup does this automatically based on the time you signed up, and the leader has no influence over it. Make sure your preferences are set to receive notifications in Meetup and Outback. Meetup allows an option to pay extra fees to be moved to the top of the waitlist on full hikes. Please do not pay these fees since it unfairly reduces the chance for other members to participate on a hike.
3. Carefully review the hike write-up to ensure that it is within your capabilities. If you are unsure of your ability to complete a hike, contact the leader. You may want to start with a Class 1 or 2, or an easy to moderate hike so that you can gauge yourself relative to other Outbackers. A link to these Hike Ratings is on the Outback Meetup front page.
4. If you have to cancel, please do so on Meetup ASAP, even if you are on the Waitlist. Leaders often make go/no-go decisions based on the number of attendees. Late cancellations on limited hikes prevent others from going. Barring an emergency, cancelling less than 24 hours in advance is considered a Late Cancellation and may be flagged as a No-Show. When cancelling late, contact the leader directly through Meetup, or call if they provided a phone number in the write-up. A hike leader can exclude a hiker if they believe he/she would be a hindrance or danger to the group, or has a record of 2 No-Shows. A history of excessive cancellations may cause exclusion from a hike.
5. Use the comment section of the hike write-up in Meetup if you have a question or comment. Note this goes out to the entire group so consider what you’re posting. Contact the leader directly if you have a private question or comment. The leader and Hike Planning Director (or other Board member) has the authority to delete inappropriate comments.
6. Check that the hike is proceeding as initially posted. Leaders may make last-minute changes or cancellations.
7. A Member should sign up for themselves, not as another’s guest. The hike leader can open the hike to non-members if they choose. As the sponsor of a guest, you should let the leader know the guest's hiking ability before the hike. Also, download the OHCOSU Waiver from the Meetup website, have them sign it, and then give it to the leader before the hike.
8. Make sure you are prepared for the hike. The leader may use a satellite device, GPS, first aid kit, or have medical training. You must bring water, food, and all of your own supplies, and be prepared for the terrain and weather. There is a list of recommended items to bring on the Meetup page.
9. Please arrive at the Meetup location 5-10 minutes early. It is often difficult to reach the hike leader, so if you are running behind, they may not wait.
10. Please keep up and remain with the group. Do not go off route. Speak directly to the leader if you have any concerns. If you leave the group, you are officially off of the hike. The hike leader may appoint a sweep to ensure that nobody is left behind. Please silence your phone during the hike, and avoid making calls.
11. Many hikes require carpooling. Plan to do your share as you join for various hikes. On long car trips, please offer to contribute gas money to the driver.
12. Cross-country hiking may involve walking on soil, so please avoid causing ecological damage to the fragile desert environment. Do not trample plants or cryptobiotic soil. Try to walk on durable surfaces (rock, gravel, sand, path) whenever possible. Please Leave No Trace. If you pack it in, pack it out. This includes toilet paper and ALL food waste.
13. Dogs are not permitted on Club hikes unless the hike write-up specifically states dogs are allowed.
14. Club hikes and trips are not led by professional guides. Each Member or guest participates at his/her own risk. When a Member joins Outback and completes the personal profile, the Member's required full name is the legal signature of agreement for the Waiver, Guidelines, and Bylaws.
15. Hike Classifications: To provide as much information as possible about a hike, use the system below:
Class 1 - simple hiking on or off trail.
Class 2 - simple scrambling with occasional use of the hands, uneven terrain.
Class 3 - significant scrambling with occasional use of the hands, uneven terrain.
Class 4 - simple climbing involved, some exposure with plentiful handholds. Falls are generally very serious or fatal. A hand line may be used for safety.
Class 5 - technical free climbing with rope, belaying or other protection hardware. NOT ALLOWED IN THE OUTBACK CLUB.
You can also rate the degree of exposure in any category, for example, minimal, moderate, high. So-every hike should be described in terms of both physical difficulty (distance, total elevation change, overall gestalt) and terrain difficulty. Verbal descriptions, of course, are extremely helpful and important-try to mention any major issues, such as a "steep ascent or descent", etc.
As an illustration, a hypothetical hike up the I- Way, stroll around the mountain top, and return the same way might be: STRENUOUS. TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN-about 1500 feet, DISTANCE- about 7 miles, CLASS 3, MODERATE EXPOSURE. Description might include "long, steep climbs up and down, with areas of loose rock", etc.
Final as of: March 30, 2026.